Quick-break switch mechanism



April 7, 1931. J. SACHS QUICK BREAK SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Jan. 50, 1928 Jaseph 555/175 fez! Patented Apr. 7, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH SACHS, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT QUICK-BREAK SWITCH MECHANISM Application'filed January 30, 1928. Serial No. 250,560.

The principal object of the present inventIOII IlS to provide avery simple and inexpensive yet effective and reliable quick break mechanism adapted to be used in conjunction with a knife blade switch wherein the knife blades are operated by a pivotally mounted operating spindle or member. The invention is particularly applicable to switches of that class wherein each comprises a switch unit which is initially separate from the operating member and which can be readily engaged with or disengaged from the operating member. A switch of this class ordinarily has an insulating body rigidly secured to each switch blade and provided with a notch open at one side and thus adapted for freely receiving or releasing the crank portion of the I operating member. In accordance with the invention a spring adapted to effect a quick break movement is mounted u on each blade and is so arranged as to be freely engaged with or disengaged from the operating member upon the movement of the switch unit to and from its normal position.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention but it will i be understood that the drawing is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that .purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front View of a switch embodying the invention, the front cover of the enclosing cabinet being removed.

Fig. 2 is a combined bottom and sectional view of the switch shown in Fig. 1 the section being taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the cabinet shown'in section.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the switch parts in another position.

The switch as shown in the drawing is of the three pole type with two poles fused and provided with switch blades and with the third pole unfused and non-switching. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited as concerns the number of poles or as concerns the presence or absence of fuses, and that it relates the quick break mechanism.

As illustrated the switch unit proper comprises an insulating base 1 upon which are mounted hinge clips 2, 2 carrying pivoted switch blades 3, 3. These blades aremovable into or out of engagement with rupture clips or contacts 4, 4. The hinge clips 2, 2 are connected respectively with wire terminals 5, 5 the connection as shown being through suitable fuse contacts adapted to receive fuses. I have shown fuse contacts 6, 6 and 7, 7 adapted to receive screw plug fuses F, F. The wire terminals 5, 5 are connected with the outer threaded contacts 7, 7 and the inner central contacts 6, 6 are connected with the hinge clips 2, 2 by means of transverse conductors 8, 8 located in grooves in the back of the base 1. The rupture clips 4, 4 are directly connected with wire terminals 9, 9. The third or neutral leg is shown at 10, this being provided with wire terminals 11 and 12.

For operating the switch blades there is provided a pivoted operating spindle or bail member 16, the pivotal axis of the spindle or bail member being coincident with the pivotal axes of the two blades. Preferably the fused switch unit is mounted within an enclosing cabinet such as 17 providedwith a hinged front cover 18. The base 1 is secured to the rear wall of the cabinet by means of screws 19, 19. When a cabinet such as 17 is provided the operating member 16 is preferably pivotally mounted in the side walls of the cabinet, the said member having two pivot sections 20 and 21 extending respectively through the said side walls. Between the said pivot sections 20 and ,2 1 is a crank portion 22 and adjacent one of the pivot sec tions, as for instance 21, is a handle portion 23 located on the exterior of the cabinet and accessible for the operation of the switch when the cover 18 is closed.

In order that the operating member may have operative engagement with the switch blades 3, 3 each of the said blades has secured to it a body 13 of insulating material. As shown each body 13 is in the form of a flat plate which is secured to the corresponding blade by means of a rivet 14 and particularly to rigidly of located at the sides of a retaining member 15. Each of the said insulating plates or bodies 13 is provided with a relatively wide notch 24 through which the crank portion 22 of the operating member extends. The notch 24 is open at one side and is thus adapted for receiving or releasing the transverse crank portion of the operating member when the switch unit is moved into or removed from its normal position. The said crank portion 22 of the operating member is much narrower than the notches 24 and the said crank portion therefore is capable of a relative movement independently of the switch blades within the limits determined by the width of the notches. Normally the operating member is in the position shown in Fig. 3 with the crank portion therethe respective notches adjacent the rupture clips or contacts 4, 4.

Mounted on each insulating body is a coil spring 25 arranged with its axis parallel with the crank portion of the operating member. One end of the spring, indicated by 26, is held against movement with respect to the insulating body 13 and the other end of the spring, indicated by 27, is inengagement with the crank portion of the operating member so as to exert pressure thereon'tending to move the insulating body and the switch blade relatively to the operating member in the opening direction. Preferably, as a means for mounting the spring 25 on the insulating body 13, 1 provide a stud 28 which is carried by the insulating body and extends transversely thereof. The coil spring 25 surrounds the said stud and is held in place thereby. I also prefer to provide the said insulating body 13 with a relatively small spring retaining notch 29 and to provide the end 26 of the spring with a hooked portion 30 which is entered in the said notch and which thereby holds the end of the spring against movement with respect to the insulating body.

It will be observed that the relationship of the spring 27 to the crank portion 22 of the operating member is such that the spring is freely engaged with or disengaged from the said crank portion upon the movement of the switch unit into or from its normal po sition. This construction and mountin the spring in conjunction with the open-sided notch 24 makes it possible for the switch unit to be initially constructed separately from the cabinet and the operating member. After the operating member has been put in position in the cabinet the switch unit can then be moved into its normal position, the crank portion of the operating member entering the notch 24 and the spring 27 assuming its proper operative engagement with the said crank portion. Similarly, if removal of the switch unit is required or purposes of repair, adjustment or replacement. this can be readily done, the open-sided notch freely releasing the crank portion of the operating member and the spring 27 freely disengaging the said crank portion.

When the operating member is moved in the downward direction, that is, in the opening direction, the crank portionthereof first moved to the opposite or lower end 1S of the notch 24 thus additionally tensioning the spring 25. Continued movement of the operating member causes the movement of the insulating body and of the blade in the opening direction to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 4. When this position is reached the blade 3 is released from its frictional engagement with the rupture contact 4 and the spring 25, by reason of the engagement of its 'end 27 with the portion 22 of the operating member, moves the insulating body and the blade further in the opening direction to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. Thus the spring serves'to eifect a quick break.

It will be observed that when the switch is open the portion 22 of the operating member is in engagement with the upper end of the notch 24 and is ready to effect movement of the insulating body and of the blade in the closing direction. The closing movement, therefore, is efiected without any relative movement between the operating member on the one hand and the insulating body and blade on the other hand.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric switch, the combination of a pivoted cranked operating member, a switch unit supported separately from the operating member and comprising a base and a pivoted switch blade thereon, an insulating body rigidly secured to the blade and having therein a notch through which the crank portion of the operating member extends transversely when the unit is in its normal position with the pivotal axis of the blade coincident with the pivotal axis of the operating member, the said notch being open at one side and thus "of the operating member upon the movement of the switch unit into or from its normal position, the said spring by reason of its engagement with the said crank portion serving after initial opening movement of the blade by the operating member to additionally move the blade to efiect a nick break.

2. An electric switch as set orth in claim 1, wherein there are at least two switch blades, each free from direct mechanical connection with any other blade, and wherein each blade carries an insulating body and a spring such as described.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set a my hand this 27th day of January, 1928.

JOSEPH sAe s 

